SUPERCARS 2027 CALENDAR LOCKED IN AS IPSWICH MISS OUT, QUINN FIRES WARNING..
A 14-round championship, the return of Phillip Island, a historic Super2 standalone event, and a new Darwin night race headline a major shake-up for Supercars in 2027. But the calendar announcement has also sparked criticism from Queensland Raceway owner Tony Quinn.
Supercars has confirmed its 2027 championship calendar, with the series preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a schedule featuring 14 rounds across Australia and New Zealand. Sydney Motorsport Park will once again host the season opener on February 26-28, followed by Tasmania, Melbourne, and an expanded New Zealand double-header featuring Christchurch and Taupo in consecutive weeks.
One of the biggest changes will come in Darwin, where the series will stage its first-ever night race event on June 18-20. Townsville retains its traditional July slot before the championship heads to Perth and Sandown to complete the Sprint Cup.
The Enduro Cup will begin at The Bend on September 17-19 before the traditional Bathurst 1000, scheduled for October 7-10.
The Finals Series will then get underway on the Gold Coast, with Phillip Island returning to the calendar as the semi-final venue before the championship concludes with the Adelaide Grand Final on November 25-28. The announcement follows lengthy negotiations surrounding the Teams Racing Charter, with seven teams opting for an equity bonus payment structure while five selected a higher annual payment.
QUINN SLAMS IPSWICH OMISSION
While the new calendar delivers several exciting changes, the omission of Queensland Raceway has not gone down well with circuit owner Tony Quinn.
Ipswich has attracted strong crowds since returning to the championship, with Quinn investing an estimated $10 million in improvements to the venue following his purchase in 2021. Quinn believes fans in southeast Queensland are the biggest losers from the decision, arguing that Queensland Raceway offers better value and accessibility than the Gold Coast street race.
He also questioned Supercars' reliance on government funding and criticized the decision to retain Sandown rather than Queensland Raceway.
Quinn expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of communication from Supercars during calendar negotiations, claiming he was not formally informed of the venue's exclusion until shortly before the announcement. Despite the disappointment, Quinn confirmed Queensland Raceway would continue operating as a strong motorsport business.
SUPER2 RETURNS TO SEVEN ROUNDS
There is also a significant development for the Dunlop Super2 Series, which will expand to seven rounds in 2027 for the first time since 2019. The biggest addition is the return of a standalone Super2 event at Mallala on April 23-25, marking the category's first standalone round since 2008 and its first visit to the South Australian venue since 2006.
Sydney Motorsport Park will host the opening round before Mallala, with Darwin, Perth, and Sandown also featuring ahead of the Bathurst 1000. Bathurst will become the penultimate round before the season concludes on the streets of Adelaide. The expanded schedule provides additional opportunities for emerging drivers, particularly those looking to secure valuable endurance racing opportunities ahead of the Great Race.
A BIG YEAR AHEAD
With Phillip Island returning, Ipswich departing, Darwin preparing for night racing, and Super2 expanding, the 2027 season is shaping as one of the most significant calendar changes in recent years.
Supercars interim CEO Barclay Nettlefold said the calendar would celebrate the championship's 30-year history while introducing new elements to take the sport forward. However, with Quinn's criticism highlighting the ongoing debate around venue selection, government funding, and fan accessibility, the announcement is unlikely to be the end of the discussion.
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